The NBA showcases their brightest stars on Christmas Day. The New York Knicks and Boston Celtics get the day started at noon in the East.
For me, Christmas Day in the NBA always represented the unofficial start of the season. By this time, teams have begun to gel, contenders have emerged and the bottom dwellers start thinking about making league altering trades.This is the day for the NBA to march out their brightest stars, from Lebron James to Dwayne Wade, Steph Curry and Kevin Durant, along with the hallowed grounds of Madison Square Garden and bright lights of Los Angeles. The slate is normally set with intriguing matchups, from historic rivalries, Championship rematches, and superstar versus superstar.
This year is filled with the same. To say it is my favorite day of basketball, would be an understatement. The games are all nationally televised, with the only obstacle being, staying awake for the West Coast, 10:30 p.m. ET start.
The five-game heavyweight card gets started at noon on the East Coast, with a legendary rivalry game between the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics. The day continues with a Marquee rematch of the 2015-16 NBA Finals when Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers play host to Steph Curry, Kevin Durant and the Golden State Warriors.
Christmas Day staples, the Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs, and Oklahoma City Thunder fill the evening spots, as Russell Westbrook welcomes in the future stars of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the 8:00 p.m. ET game. The Los Angeles Derby caps off the night, as Staples Center tenants the Los Angeles Lakers challenge the Los Angeles Clippers. In what no doubt will be an exciting day of hoops, here is a preview of each game.
In what, no doubt, will be an exciting day of hoops, here is a preview of each game.
NEXT: Boston @ New York
Boston Celtics @ New York Knicks, 12:00 p.m. ET
In what could be an opening round playoff matchup, “Wunderkind Coach” Brad Stevens leads this scrappy Boston Celtics team into the “World’s Most Famous Arena,” Madison Square Garden during the 12:00 a.m. ET, matinee to face off against the New York Knicks. The two teams are both hovering around the .500 mark to start the season.
The Celtics rely heavily on their guard play for the majority of their scoring, as Isaiah Thomas and Avery Bradley sit 1 & 2 in this category. Bradley is the type of player you love to watch play the game, as he excels on both sides of the floor. Stevens rotates an array of blue collar bigs, such as Al Horford, Kelly Olynyk, and Jae Crowder to pick up the defensive end.
For the Knicks, Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis sit at the center of what the Knicks do offensively. To win this game, the Knicks will need major contributions from Derrick Rose, Courtney Lee and Brandon Jennings, especially on the defensive side of the ball to slow down the offensive prowess of the Celtics guard duo.
Prediction:
Merry Kristaps! The Knicks celebrate a happy holiday at home, with a big time performance from the big man.
NEXT: Golden State @ Cleveland
Golden State Warriors @ Cleveland Cavaliers, 2:30 p.m. ET
We all know the narrative, down three games to one in the NBA Finals, Lebron James does the impossible, and leads the Cleveland Cavaliers to the promised land against the 73-9 Golden State Warriors. If he wasn’t already considered a Mount Rushmore figure in the NBA prior to last year’s finals, a near triple-double, “the block,” and his Game 6 performance cemented his iconic status.
Add another year of chemistry with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, and the Cavaliers could be on their way back to a date with the Warriors. Fast Forward through an offseason where the “Greatest Show on Court” added one of the most prolific scorers in the league to their absurdly talent-rich roster. The Kevin Durant acquisition to a team already consisting of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green adds to the embarrassment of riches for Coach Steve Kerr.
With the Warriors not skipping a beat from last season’s win total, the growing pains have been almost non-existent, as each night, opponents could be faced with a career night from Steph, Durant, or Klay. If Lebron and the Cavaliers defied the odds last year, they will need an absolute miracle this year to defeat what will be considered the greatest assembly of offensive talent in league history.
With the Warriors not skipping a beat from last season’s win total, the growing pains have been almost non-existent, as each night, opponents could be faced with a career night from Steph, Durant, or Klay. If Lebron and the Cavaliers defied the odds last year, they will need an absolute miracle this year to defeat what will be considered the greatest assembly of offensive talent in league history.
Prediction:
The red-hot Warriors, stay red hot, as Steph Curry and Klay Thompson shoot the Christmas Lights out in Cleveland.
NEXT: Chicago @ San Antonio
Chicago Bulls @ San Antonio Spurs, 5:00 p.m. ET
There are superstars in the NBA that have thrived on talent alone. Then there are superstars who have been ultra-talented who have put their bodies in constant harm and played each game like their last. Larry Bird, Allen Iverson and future Hall of Famer, Dwyane Wade.
Some look at Wade as the sidekick to Lebron James or Shaquille O’Neal’s leading man, I could not disagree more. Dwayne has been the heart and soul of the championship teams he has been a part of. At the tail end of his career, he does fall into that sidekick role with the emergence of
Dwayne has been the heart and soul of the championship teams he has been a part of. At the tail end of his career, he does fall into that sidekick role with the emergence of Jimmy Butler. Butler is off to a great start to what appears to be a shining future in the NBA. On the other side of the court, is the NBA’s “old reliable,” the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs have been the model franchise over the past decade, the New England Patriots of the NBA. Like the Patriots, the demeanor that the Coach exudes sets the tone for what this team is. If you want frills and razzle-dazzle, then the Spurs are not for you. They bring a fundamentally sound game that is often unmatched and though spectators may become bored out of their minds, it is extremely effective. Look for the Spurs to finish the season as the #2 seed in the Western Conference and punch their ticket to face off with the Warriors in the Western Conference Finals.
If you want frills and razzle-dazzle, then the Spurs are not for you. They bring a fundamentally sound game that is often unmatched and though spectators may become bored out of their minds, it is extremely effective. Look for the Spurs to finish the season as the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference and punch their ticket to face off with the Warriors in the Western Conference Finals.
If you want frills and razzle-dazzle, then the Spurs are not for you. They bring a fundamentally sound game that is often unmatched and though spectators may become bored out of their minds, it is extremely effective. Look for the Spurs to finish the season as the #2 seed in the Western Conference and punch their ticket to face off with the Warriors in the Western Conference Finals.
They bring a fundamentally sound game that is often unmatched and though spectators may become bored out of their minds, it is extremely effective. Look for the Spurs to finish the season as the #2 seed in the Western Conference and punch their ticket to face off with the Warriors in the Western Conference Finals.
Prediction:
By now, it has been a long day. Grab your favorite glass of red, sit back, relax and get ready for a snoozer, as Kawhi Leonard and the Spurs make easy “work” of the Bulls.
NEXT: Minnesota @ Thunder
Minnesota Timberwolves @ Oklahoma City Thunder, 8:00 p.m. ET
When the league schedule was announced, this game looked like it would match two contenders in the Western Conference. The Oklahoma City Thunder took the hardest free agency hit in the offseason with the departing Kevin Durant to the Golden State Warriors. The trade of
The trade of Serge Ibaka has ushered in a new supporting cast for Russell Westbrook. He has been nothing short than amazing in the early part of the season, while averaging a triple double. I believe it would take the acquisition of another high level player to compete for another Finals appearance, something that has eluded this team over the past two years.
When you look at the Minnesota Timberwolves roster, you see the individual talent that has been comprised. Rookie of the Year Award Winners in Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins lead this young team. Throw in the electrifying dunking talents of Zach Lavine, the budding talents of Gorgui Dieng, with a backcourt of Ricky Rubio and Kris Dunn, this team is destined for great things. It will be the job of Tom Thibodeau to mold this team into a contender for the foreseeable future.
Prediction:
Like TBS airing “A Christmas Story,” its Russel Westbrook all night long. The Thunder outpace the Timberwolves to get you ready for the night cap.
NEXT: Clippers @ Lakers
Los Angeles Clippers @ Los Angeles Lakers, 10:30 p.m. ET
Before Santa gets nestled in bed for a long winter’s nap, the NBA offers up the West Coast City rivalry. The upstart Los Angeles Lakers play host to Doc Rivers and the Clippers. The Lakers biggest challenge this year will be deciding whether chemistry and wins are more important than a high draft pick. The Lakers will surrender any pick outside the Top 3 to the Philadelphia 76ers. Every high draft pick is important to young teams, and with the depth available in this year’s draft, any lottery pick outside the top 3 would be detrimental to the Lakers franchise. On the opposite side of the spectrum, the Los Angeles Clippers window of competing for Championships may be closing. They have been a team plagued with key injuries, especially to their superstar forward,
The Lakers biggest challenge this year will be deciding whether chemistry and wins are more important than a high draft pick. The Lakers will surrender any pick outside the Top 3 to the Philadelphia 76ers. Every high draft pick is important to young teams, and with the depth available in this year’s draft, any lottery pick outside the top 3 would be detrimental to the Lakers franchise. On the opposite side of the spectrum, the Los Angeles Clippers window of competing for Championships may be closing. They have been a team plagued with key injuries, especially to their superstar forward,
On the opposite side of the spectrum, the Los Angeles Clippers window of competing for Championships may be closing. They have been a team plagued with key injuries, especially to their superstar forward, Blake Griffin. Griffin’s absence has put a larger emphasis on the talents of Chris Paul and Deandre Jordan. Griffin is expected to miss up to 6 weeks with his latest injury to his right knee. If this injury plagues Griffin for an extended time, Doc Rivers will need to formulate a plan to attack teams in a much different way. Shooters like
If this injury plagues Griffin for an extended time, Doc Rivers will need to formulate a plan to attack teams in a much different way. Shooters like J.J. Redick, Jamal Crawford, and even Chris Paul, will need to rely on the presence that Deandre Jordan can provide inside. As for a season long look like, the Clippers will find it hard to win the West with the Warriors and Spurs being much more equipped. I’d be surprised to see them move on from Blake Griffin, but stranger things have happened.
I’d be surprised to see them move on from Blake Griffin, but stranger things have happened.
Prediction:
Like the star on top of the tree, Chris Paul shines the brightest. Clippers close out the day with a blowout performance. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!